- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for August 14, 2005 - August 20, 2005
Total this week: 90
Treehugger welcomes writer Sean Fisher!
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 08.20.05
Abaca Club Chair
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.20.05
This modern, attractive chair has three things going for it. One, it's made of a growth-sustained Philippine wood. Two, it's hand-embellished with abaca, a banana fiber that's readily renewable. Three, it has cotton cushions with covers that are easily washable. Apparently it was designed by a well-known Filipino designer, who's identity remains clouded in mystery. Available for $830 from HomeBvld.
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Hemp Sketchbook by Green Field Paper
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.20.05
This is the absolute state-of-the-art in sketchbooks. When I have the inclination to sketch, I want to know the paper I am sketching on is the most optimized material known to humankind, and not only that, I want it to originate from a source that is co-ordinated with the world around me. I ask a lot from a sketchbook and luckily this Hemp Sketchbook is up to the task. It has 75 sheets of text weight Hemp Heritage paper. Paper is made from 25% hemp and 75% post consumer waste recycled material. :: Good Human...
Free Geek Non-Profit in Portland
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.20.05
Recently, we wrote about the Portland Peak Oil Discussion Group and in the comments of that post reader Jez Lezbro pointed out another "Portland treehugging icon": Free Geek. They are a non-profit "community organization that recycles used technology to provide computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those in need in exchange for community service." In their first four year of existence - Free Geek was created in 2000 - they have recycled more than 360 tons of electronic scrap and refurbished over 3,000 computers (loading them with open source software) that are now used by low-income individuals and non-profit organizations, helping both the environment and the Portland community. Free Geek, with over 200 volunteers at any time, is a democratic organization and use consensus in its meetings. If you are in Portland and want to contact them, either to help or because you need help, go here.
::Free Geek Mission Statement, ::Free Geek Media Coverage, Donate Money to Free Geek...
Hyatt to Run Two Hotels on 100% Renewables
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.20.05
Two Hyatt Regency hotels in the Dallas area have agreed to buy only renewable energy. This makes them the nation's largest hotel purchasers of energy from wind, solar and other renewables. Their hotels are quite large, energy intensive affairs so this impressive. The hotels will buy their power from Green Mountain Energy, which is based in Austin. Green Mountain is saying that this move is part of a growing preference for renewable energy, which they said would increase demand for wind farms. The hotels using the renewable energy will be Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion and the Hyatt Regency at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. :: Story via Triple Pundit....
Sustainable "Serenity Bench"
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.20.05
What makes this curved-back garden bench a bit different? It's made of kapur wood, a Southeast Asian hardwood which is almost as dense as teak but is much more affordable. Kapur is also certified by the Tropical Forest Trust due to its responsible harvesting. You can acquire it for $199 from the Gardener's Supply Company — a group that offers all manner of eco-efficient garden items....
Velo'v: Lyon's Rentabike
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.20.05
Pardon, mon Français is a bit rusty, so I’ll defer to the more reliable Guardian newspaper and assume they got the details right. During the past 3 months the French city of Lyon has been experimenting with a bicycle rental program. And I guess you could say it's been a rideaway success. The 1,500 silver and red bikes have 15,000 urbanites signed up, ready to use them. On average, each bike is released from it's computerised stand 6.5 times a day. With a prepaid card you can extract a bike from one of these ‘smart’ racks knowing that it's ready to roll - the rack will only yield a bike if its brakes, tyre pressure, gears and lights have already been digitally checked and approved, and you’ve swiped your prepaid card for access. The cost of the card? A paltry 5 Euro per year ($6 USD), and if your ride is less than half an hour it's free! If all the bicycles are taken from the set of racks, nearest your set-off point, you can ask it where the nearest available bikes are located. Commonsense and technology finally merge - I’m delightfully astounded. And in the next two years they expect to have rolled out a total of 4,000 bicycles. Amazing. Read Jon Henley’s Guardian article here, where he says even the Dutch are impressed, or allez directement à ::Velo’v ...
3D Furniture Modeling by Mathias Bengtsson
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.20.05
London-based designer Mathias Bengtsson modeled this chair in 3D on a computer. He used precision lasers to automatically cut individual plywood slices, which were assembled to give this chair the appearance of sculpted sandstone. Organic shapes like this were not possible to create before the advent of this kind of 3D modeling technology. But is it Treehugger-esq? Not likely if lasers are involved. What do you think? I'm putting in our "Almost" category for now, unless convinced otherwise! :: Bengtsson Design. Via: Land+Living...
Boku's paperback journals
by Erwan Pianezza, Locronan, Brittany on 08.20.05
Not ready yet to go E-Paper ? No worry, you can save your conscience while keeping your beloved pen and paper habits : BokuBooks, based in Oakland, holds more than just aesthetics and quality commitments. Inspired by museum and galleries printbooks, the new Bokubooks line delivers simplicity within an environmental friendly process : text paper in their books uses a mix of tree-free kenaf fiber (30%) and recycled sheet (70%)....
A Pound Each Day
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.20.05
The Columbia Journalism Review piece under this link reminded me of how important great writing was to the environmental movement of the late 1960's, and how crucial it is to the future. Question-to-self on completing Marla Cone's essay, "The Unbroken Chain": how many TreeHugger readers have finished Silent Spring, the baseline for her essay? And, would a they grasp Cone's subtleties if not? It's a question that's hard to depersonalize, as Cone's work references her home town, site of one of the largest historic accumulations of PCB waste in the nation, the cleanup of which I long ago managed. Ms. Cone breaths personal immediacy in and exhales Carson's rational framework out, flowing them together very nicely in a modern context. Even if you've not read the legacy piece, her essay is, I think, quite accessible and worthwhile....
Fuel Cell Car Kit
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 08.20.05
Can a car run on only water? Well, it wouldn't be much fun otherwise so you can guess the simple answer is "yes", if it is the car from the Fuel Cell Car and Experiment Kit from Thames and Kosmos. Now you or a budding future scientist dear to you can find out how it works and explore the complexities behind that simple "yes", such as:...
Modern Tots: Introducing Youngsters to Mod
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.20.05
ModernTots was founded earlier this year with a goal of letting a new standard of style into kids' rooms. After all, shouldn't everyone be able to enjoy practical, well-crafted and genuinely beautiful furniture? The site is jammed with fab modern gear for youngsters, from high-chairs to cribs to beds to tables; we especially like this Mox Box dresser made from bamboo. If sustainable modernism is going to be the future of design, the kids have to be in on it, too. ::ModernTots via ::Not Pastel...
Toyota Prius GT?!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.20.05
It has been called "the answer to the question nobody asked": Introducing the 2005 Toyota Prius GT concept car, first seen at the 2004 Paris Auto Show. Not quite a speed demon, but certainly a more responsible way to move posthaste than most of the other cars with that much stickers. "The concept is to demonstrate the flexibility of the Prius platform." It features a 147 horsepower gas-electric drivetrain with plenty of torque coming from the electric motors, a stripped interior and roll cage making it 180 kg (400 lbs) lighter and a zero-to-a-hundred kilometers per hour (0-62 miles/hour) time of 8.7 seconds. Best of all, "fuel economy remains essentially unchanged... with normal driving!" Continue for pretty pictures!...
Interview Suggestions for Treehugger Wanted!
by on 08.20.05
Treehugger is in the midst of lining up a steady stream of TH interviews and we want to ensure that all the players in the modern green movement are covered. We’d like nothing more than to get your direct feedback on this, so please take a moment to drop a comment and let us know what eco-celebrity/innovator/entrepreneur/designer (you get the idea), would make for a great TH interview candidate. After the jump is a list of eco-celebrities from all professions to help get your wheels spinning. While you're at it, if there's any burning question you'd like to see addressed to an eco-celebrity, let us know and we'll do our best to make that happen. *and..if any of you have good contacts with anyone...please do hook us up!
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A Treehugger Shout-Out to Pair Networks
by on 08.19.05
Treehugger takes pride in bringing attention to companies that are striving to ensure everything they do is as green and sustainable as possible. Today we're pointing our green spotlight towards our very own host, Pair Networks. Thanks to all you Treehuggers out there checking in with us on a regular basis, we've had to upgrade our bandwidth on a fairly regular basis. Suffice it to say, this has led to a lot of interaction with the Pair Network team. TH founder Graham Hill perhaps summarizes our experience with them best in the following quote."In a world where customer support is increasingly being replaced by phone trees and online FAQ's, pair.com has been outstanding to work with. Treehugger has been around for over a year now and in that time we've had very few issues whatsoever. Anytime we have needed support, Pair has extended to us nothing but fast, excellent and friendly service. To top it off, they give us a reduced rate, as they too believe in promoting sustainability! Thanks Pair!" ::Pair Networks...
Q & A : Biodiesel Airplanes?
by TreeHugger on 08.19.05
Treehugger Elizabeth Snow wrote us today, asking "Can airplanes run on biodiesel?" We thought that was a decent question, since a Boeing 747 run from Minneapolis to Amsterdam uses over 109,700 liters of fuel to make the trip. That's almost 8 times as much fuel per passenger mile as a bus, and over twice as much fuel/passenger mile as a car. With the global airline fleet sucking down this much fuel, it would be nice to know that it was renewable......
Now Showing: Sundance Winner "Grizzly Man"
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 08.19.05
Like Christopher McCandless, the young protagonist in Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, Timothy Treadwell is a provocative character that forces us to contemplate the paradox of human's place in nature. The newly released documentary Grizzly Man takes an intimate look at Treadwell's ill fated adventures with Grizzly bears and explores the motivations and possibly the neurosis that drove him to his "work" with Grizzlies in the wild. The Sundance award winner was released this week and is (hopefully) coming soon to a theater near you....
TreeHuggers Made to Look Like Conservatives
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.19.05
Have a look at this front page headline from today's Washington Post. "Politicians Have Little to Offer To Ease Anguish of Gas Prices". Paraphrasing here, the article goes on to explain: 'the Administration and every member of Congress face an uncomfortable political reality this summer. They have little to offer Americans to ease their pain at the pump'. It seems like a decade or so since TreeHuggers gave up hope for stronger CAFE mileage standards or higher gas taxes. Regulatory approaches like these were hopeless for several reasons. One was that Congress fought fiercely against them. Not surprising either, as most buyers just wanted everything supersized. So we waited for the hybrids, dreamed about hydrogen - and awoke from it, gobbled up the electric cars, or setup shop to help TreeHuggers meet personal goals. Willie and other celebs helped but it was TreeHuggers and foreign owned car makers largely who did the pioneering. Deja vu....
Mood Light Object: Polaris
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.19.05
This lamp or "mood light object" is a bit different than most rechargeable lamps out there. First of all, it's made out of mouth-blown Parnaterra glass, not a plastic resin. It has a satin-finish that diffuses the LED light inside, and it can be used as a vase for flowers if you wish. You can set the lamp to cycle through a spectrum or colors, and then freeze it at the hue you like. It can also be controlled by remote. When the built-in lithium battery is fully charged, it glows continuously for up to 10 hours. They have a lot of other lamp shapes too. Available from YLighting for $110.
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Capelli Stool by Carol Catalano
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.19.05
Designer Carol Catalano found inspiration in the form of intertwined fingers to create this stool. She worked through several prototypes before she found on a design that contains two identical halves that connect without fasteners to create a stable, cantilevered seat. Very efficient in its construction, the stool consists of eleven alternating dark- and light-stained hardwood inner plies and light ash veneer. :: Available for $429 from Room & Board...
2Faced Carpets
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.19.05
Goto Reviews reports that Lees Carpets is introducing a new line of eco-friendly carpets called 2Faced, which were recently chosen as product of the month by Architectural Record. 2Faced carpets are tufted in such as way that they appear to change colors, depending on your perspective (see photo of strange woman)....
Mystic River Outdoor Chaise Lounge
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.19.05
Designed by Irving Sabo, whose work combines Scandinavian and Mission styles, this lounge is constructed with mortise and tenon joinery, with a system of interweaving pegs. The lounge is made with red cedar and a golden teak stain that emulates the smooth surface of traditional teak chairs. The stain is an Australian Timber Oil, consisting of tung and natural linseed oils. The lounge sells for $269. :: Brookbend...
Fuji Xerox Announces Power-Saving E-Paper
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.19.05
Fuji Xerox has announced a prototype electronic paper called "E-Paper Visual Index Card." The ultra-thin e-paper reduces electrical consumption because it does not need electricity to maintain its display configuration. The e-paper is made of photoconductivity seats that contain an LCD layer, and is expected to come out next year. :: Story on CNet...
Sharp Plans to Blend Plant-Based Plastic with Waste Plastic
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.19.05
Sharp Corporation has developed a new technology to blend plant-based plastic and waste plastic recovered from scrapped consumer electronics. At present, raw materials used in consumer electronics rely almost entirely on fossil materials such as petroleum. Sharp says they have been conducting research since 1999 on technologies to recycle waste plastic from consumer electronics, and in May 2003, put such a recycling technology into practical use to enable repeated re-use of polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS)....
Cleaner and Greener with the Leonardo Academy
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.19.05
Per the Cleaner and Greener Website: "[We are] working to offset the emissions created due to energy use associated with the US Green Building Council's fourth annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. The Cleaner and Greener program calculates the emissions caused by energy use at the event, travel of event organizers and attendees to and from the event, hotel rooms and meals. We are now gathering donations to offset all or part of the atmospheric impact of Greenbuild". They also offer an corporate certification service for firms wanting to demonstrate their TreeHugging credentials: see them listed after the fold. Their residential emissions calculator is great....
Prefab Now- the Tropical House Reconstructed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.19.05
We have covered Jean Prouve and the Tropical House at Treehugger before. The French engineer developed brilliant prefabricated designs, including the tropical house from 1946, which could be transported in a single WW2 vintage airplane. No piece weighed more than 100Kg, and could be handled by two men. Now,rescued by Robert Rubin, the Tropical House has been reconstructed at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and is open for view at the Prefab Now Conference in October....
Carbon Nanoribbon: Wrapped in Wonder
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 08.19.05
Carbon nanotubes are the Lego set of choice for materials scientists these days. Ray Baughman's Team from the University of Texas at Dallas has developed a system that can crank out 10 meters of the ribbon every minute. The video is impressive proof of manufacturing potential, but the practical uses are almost mind boggling. Transparent, flexible, electrically conductive, thin, lightweight, and stronger then steel they can be used for everything from super thin and flexible televisions and monitors to space elevator ribbons to highly efficient solar power....
Tuka Bambú and Quick Bamboo – Importing to Europe
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 08.19.05
If we were to do a survey of Treehugger’s favourite sustainable materials (which actually might not be a bad idea, boss!) I would put a pretty hefty bet on Bamboo being close to, if not at the top of the list. Natural, strong, sustainable, versatile and toxin free, the only downer is that it is rare to find local bamboo to use as a building material rather than just as a garden plant. Usually bamboo is shipped from the east, where it grows in abundance and is harvested regularly. So while we wait to find local suppliers of bamboo in Europe or the Sates, (please inform us if you know of any), it is as well to tell you about those who are doing a good job of bringing it to us. FK Importation is a Barcelona based business which is focused on importing ecological and sustainable products....
Earth Creations Clay Dyed Apparel
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.19.05
I thought we’d mentioned this sort of thing before, but a search through the dusty TH archives suggests not. Essentially thick red clay is put into a watery solution and kneaded through the knit or weave. The iron oxides in the clay act like a dye, staining the fabric, later to be 'set' in a drying process. Different coloured clays can be used to obtain various shades. The Tank Top shown here comes in but a mere 13 colours. Seemingly the synthetic dye-free colour won’t run (though the first few washes should probably be as ‘separates’) but eventually fades gracefully, like the blue in denim jeans. There are many permutations on the idea (like the family business in Australia, who make theirs in a cement mixer!) but we do like the ones from Earth Creations, because they use organic cotton, hemp and linen fabrics. (This Tank is a 55% hemp/45% organic cotton blend selling for $21.) Plus they have an extensive line of women’s and men’s apparel all sewn locally, in the USA. ::Earth Creations ...
ecoMOD - Architecture for People (who'd've thought?)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.19.05
While digging around for the update on EcoDesign Studies I stumbled upon ecoMOD and it jogged my memory. The School of Architecture at the University of Virginia describes it as “a multi-year research and design/build projects in which students and faculty will construct three ecological, modular, low income, prototype houses through a partnership with a non-profit housing organisation, Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA).” Which sounds real cool, but I think 4th year architecture design major, Christina Robinette, summed it up best ......
Hewlett-Packard Recycling Program & Goals
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.19.05
We think it is important to encourage big corps when they are on the right path, which is why we recently wrote about Canon's efforts to implement a fairly comprehensive - if a bit complicated for the consumer - program to recycle their hardware. In the comments of that post, reader Ryan Freebern pointed out the efforts by Hewlett-Packard (HP) in the area. We were aware that HP was one of those leading the pack, but it's nice to see some hard data on what they have achieved so far and what their goals are for the future. As is explained here, HP launched it's printer ink cartridge recycling program in 1991 and has since recycled more than 64 million of them. In 2003, they expanded the program to give postage-paid envelopes to clients so they can return empty cartridges more easily....
Gansu Bench from Room & Board
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.18.05
This Gansu bench has attractive functional lines, with a style that combines Asian and mid-century modern sensibilities. It's handcrafted from responsibly forested Chinese hardwood. Ah yes — responsibility — so refreshing. You can use it as a bench or as a coffee table. Available for $399 from Room & Board...
Instant Survey
by Jeremy McCumber on 08.18.05
Eco-Tip: Travel/Reusable Coffee Mugs
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.18.05
With gas prices at an all-time high, we thought this tip from Organic Style was so useful that we wanted to post it ourselves so our readers could relate. “Take all the people who read this magazine, then persuade them to sip their morning coffee from a travel mug for one week. Result: Enough trees to fill two football fields will be spared the ax. Can't commit to a week? Switching to reusable cups for just one day will save as much energy as using 1,000 gallons of gasoline.” One thousand gallons of gasoline, here in Rhode Island, would cost approximately $2,650 – and that’s just one day! We took it upon ourselves to call around to various coffee shops in our area, and each one said they'd fill our own personal mugs. Let's face it, some days we just don't have time to wait for the coffee to brew at home. So, dear readers, if you don’t drink from a reusable cup, what’s stopping you from making the switch? ::Organic Style...
Curved Plywood "High Bench" by Area
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.18.05
Velocity is featuring three pieces of furniture from Area that remind me a little of Adapt's minimalist style. This "high bench" is made of curved plywood with a oiled walnut veneer. It's priced at $330. They also have a low long table and a bedside table. Minimalist pieces like these are usually non-wasteful in their manufacture and light on resources. :: Available from Velocity....
Skylight: A Solar LED Light
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.18.05
This little gadget combines the power of LED with solar in a very small package. It's a solar LED flashlight with a lithium rechargeable battery that charges from any light source. This is quite cool, because, if you're like me, you don't relish the task of trying to find those replacement button-size batteries. The price is $25.00 or €20.00 to be exact. :: Skylight. Via Red Ferret Journal...
Living In The Up-Down, Hot-Cold, Dry-Wet Future
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.18.05
TreeHugger occasionally has taken a "scenario" tact in its posts. This story caps them. Scenario thinking and writing is not just for fun: it's a vital skill. Ever notice how the decidedly un-TreeHugger types are able to steer things toward a "he said/she said" sound byte? We say "Kyoto", they say "ruins our economy". We say "conserve resources", they say "takes away individual freedoms". Our reactions look "out there", and TreeCutters look reasonable by juxtaposition. The way out of this bind lies not just in "framing" with carefully spun words, nor in silently waiting for dreadful events to turn people around, but in scenario thinking. We'll illustrate with some climate change impacts recently modeled for the US' Great Lakes area. The goal is to outline some "predetermined elements" (PE's): things bound to happen in all modeled future scenarios. PE's by definition can't be easily denied or made to look insensible. Within them lie opportunities to live, work, or design for a better future. Turn the page for our example....
Bicycle Named Best Invention in UK National Survey
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.18.05
This is a bit old, but we thought it was noteworthy: In a BBC radio poll about "the most significant innovations since 1800", our dear friend the bicycle absolutely crushed the competition with 56% of the vote. Second and third positions are held by the transistor and electro-magnetic induction ring, each with 8%, and fourth is the computer with 6%. The survey also asked which invention participants would most like to "disinvent" and genetically-modified foods came first with 26% while nuclear power was second with 19%. "The technology most would like to see invented was an Aids vaccine. Half voted water treatment and supply systems as the technology to bring most benefit to society. Another 23% thought that vaccinations deserved the honour." The BBC listeners sound like a pretty treehugging bunch! I suppose that if the media in the US was similarly serious about covering science and nature, things would be different there.
::Bicycle chosen as best invention (thanks to Dennis Law for the tip!)...
Compact Houses
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.18.05
For those of you who cannot wait to get the new Compact Houses covered here earlier this week, we point out that Carles Broto published his version earlier this year. It includes treehugger favourites like the Wee House and others that prove that one can really live very well with less. One can read in the Wall Street Journal how most American houses are getting bigger; it is important to point out that small truly is beautiful. It's not as green as the newer book appears to be, and as always the book is rife with second homes in the country with just a sprinkling of real urban solutions, but things look so much better on a mountaintop. ::Compact Houses...
Workshopped: Exhibiting Emerging Australian Designers
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.18.05
Workshopped is an Australian company whose goal is to identify great local design and bring it to local and national attention. Each year, they hold a design exhibition to showcase their findings. Workshopped 05, happening now through August 21 in Sydney, is this year's best of up & coming Australian design. The Milk Crate Club Lounge, pictured here, is designed by the Stefan Lie Design Studio, one of thirty designers picked for the exhibit. The intent of this chair was to use only discarded and recycled materials, and to this end, the skeleton of the chair is made from used milk crates made of recycled plastic, and the cover from recycled billboard vinyl. The exhibition's main purpose is to foster promising talent and turn their rough ideas into commercial reality. It is free to the public and is expected to draw over 200,000 visitors. ::Workshopped...
Good Green Homes
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.18.05
Good Green Homes is a book for people who want to live in comfortable, healthy, environmentally conscious homes. The author, Jennifer Roberts, emphasizes that creating a green home is not only about being easier on the environment, it also creates a home that is less expensive over the long term, and more inspiring to live in. This book presents a lot of ideas and illustrations, but if you are looking for a practical step-by-step guide to creating a green home, you may want to look elsewhere. Available from Amazon for $26.37....
Patagonia Launches Common Threads Recycling. Updated
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.18.05
Patagonia, as we’ve previously noted continue to do groovy stuff in the textile industry. Like jeans from blended hemp/PET bottles, jackets from more of those recycled PET plastics and soon a line of footwear. Now the company announces they’ve finally found a way to act on something they’ve been wanting to implement for years. Making new clothes from old. vauDe in Germany pioneered this concept but Patagonia, in typical fashion, are taking it to the next level. (The vauDe Ecolog program was to take old polyester products and turn them into new trims.A form of recycling known as 'downcycling'.) Patagonia will, however, collect unwanted polyester Capilene underwear and process their fibres into genuine new garments. Thanks largely to the EcoCircle fibre-to-fibre recycling system developed by Teijin, of Japan. It’s figured that the resulting born-again fibre will save 76% the energy and 71% the CO2 emissions of using virgin polyester. Customers can start returning garments as of 12 September 05. Via ::Sports Textiles. ...
Green Toe Footwear: Revisited
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.18.05
In June we brought you news that Simple were developing a line of eco-based footwear, called Green Toe. But details were sketchy. Well, if you have $80, you can now lay your paws on the fresh-out-of-the-box 'Loaf' and 'Shuf'. A natural crepe rubber outsole (seen here) is topped by a wool felt mid sole, on which sits the jute covered, natural latex rubber footbed. All covered by a jute upper. (Jute is tough bast fibre, sort of like a poor man’s version of hemp, linen or ramie. Sourced mostly from the Indian sub-continent, it's often made into hessian and burlap sacks. But now it's funky shoes. Treehuggery has gone full circle, huh?) Apart from the natural textiles, the Green Toe range uses water based glues and soy-based dyes. And they offer accessories that include a quite novel straw and hemp baseball cap. Their very obviously anti-slick, cartoon-based website can be found here - ::Green Toe by Simple ...
Islands Rugs by Angela Adams
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.18.05
These rugs by Angela Adams, are almost sustainably created. They are backed with 100% cotton monk cloth and a latex adhesive. This bodes well for your home, since it's non-toxic and natural. In addition, Angela Adams is a member of Rugmark, a global organization working to end child labor and offer educational opportunities. The problem is that the cotton is conventionally grown as far as we know, which means a whole lot of pesticides and water were used to create it. Available from 2Modern for $70 each....
Hybrid Vehicle Survey from London School of Economics
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.18.05
Here is a very short survey (9 questions, it literally takes 2 minutes) about hybrid vehicles by Anne Brooks of the London School of Economics. "Note that this survey is for academic purposes only and your survey responses are confidential. The survey will be used to increase our knowledge about consumer interest in hybrid electric vehicles." Hybrid owners and non-owners are welcome. If you have a couple of minutes of free time, please consider helping out.
::LSE Hybrid Vehicle Survey, via ::WorldChanging...
Song Sung Green (apologies to Neil Diamond)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.18.05
Now for a bit of whimsy. Treehugger is big on the visuals - plenty of words and images - for a greener, more just future. But we humans also respond well to aural stimuli as well, so it occurred to me, on a long drive, that maybe we should get a little iMix happening too. Build up a list of songs that put a beat to our better world leanings. I’ve culled a selection of lyrics from a few tunes that bounce around in my mind. Feel free to add yours.
Hymn of the Big Wheel by Massive Attack
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes
As a child solemn pray my hope hides in disguise
While satellites and cameras watch from the skies
An acid drop of rain recycled from the sea
It washed away my shadow burnt a hole in me
And all the king's men cannot put it back again
But the ghetto sun will nurture life
And mend my soul sometime again
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British Berkefeld Gravity Filters: No Need for Bottled Water
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
These British Berkefeld gravity filters are great. They allow you to perform high-quality water filtration on your counter top using gravity alone. The ceramic filters inside last for years, and need cleaning only every three months or so. They're pretty easy to operate too — you just pour water in the top half, it the water drips down the bottom half. After a few hours you have gallons of ready-to-drink water. Ceramic filters remove more than 99% of pathogens in water. You can read about them here....
Legna: An Eco-Fiber that Feels Like Silk
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
Legna (pronounced LANE-ya) is a new fiber from Italy that looks and feels like silk but washes and wears like cotton. It is made entirely from the wood of sustainably harvested trees using a closed-loop process, that continuously recycles 99.6% of the bleach-free solvent and the water used to make this fiber. Legna was created by the SDH copmany as an eco-friendly alternative to the cotton industry. Legna has received the European Union Technology Award for Sustainable Development. Legna bedding is available from Dax Stores. Towels and bathrobes can be had from The Giving Tree....
Grow-A-Note Recycled Cards
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
Grow-A-Note cards are greeting cards with the seeds of wildflowers embedded in the hand-made, recycled paper. When the recipient is finished with the card it can be planted directly in the ground or the seeds can be sprouted before planting. The paper acts as a mulch for the seeds — instructions for planting and growing are included with each card. The cards are made in the U.S. using soy inks. They also make these packs of Thank You cards too. Available from Good Humans for $3.50 each....
Good House, Cheap House: Inventive Use of Inexpensive Materials
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
Good House, Cheap House takes the reader on a pictorial tour of 20 houses that are examples of intelligent use of space, and inventive use of inexpensive materials. Industrial bridge washers make for attractive mantelpiece rosettes, old concrete subflooring is given new life with rich-hued stain, and glass sliding doors make for windows that are oversized and affordable. The book is due in October 2005, and available for pre-ordering from Amazon for $16.47. Via: MoCo Loco...
By Nature’s Organic Clothing
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.17.05
Just launched this summer is a new organic clothing line from By Nature for women, men, children and babies. Their style is contemporary, yet eco at the same time with all products made from organic cotton. Based in London, By Nature also offers on their Website a Lifestyle section for consumers to learn more about sustainable choices and a Community section to offer others advice as well. We had to pick up the Organic Slippers while we visited. With a description that says “Purest organic cotton and extra thick extra soft sole” how could we possibly resist? Oooh la la! ::By Nature ...
Indonesian Kancil Minicar Promoted by Government
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.17.05
The big US car makers just had to be expecting they'd grab some car market in developing economies. With their obscessive focus on SUV's and Megatrucks in the US, did they really expect nations like Indonesia to wait around for efficient transportation? Surprise. The Indonesian made "Kancil" pictured here was designed to overtake the Indian-designed three-wheeled "bajajs" that so famously pollute Indonesian cities. From Jakarta: "The diminutive Kancil minicar has a 404cc engine, seats four, can reach a maximum speed of 80kph and gets 17-20km to the liter...The company has already sold some 500 of the Kancil minicar at a price of 40 million rupiah ($4,093), and is now set to promote and popularize the vehicle with the blessing of preferential treatment from the government". UPDATE: this Kancil Minicar image is the correct one, brought to our attention from a reader in Indonesia, as per the comment below. ...
Organic Blueberry Juice from Walnut Acres
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.17.05
We’ve read in several places lately how good blueberries are for you. Not only are they a good source of antioxidants, including carotenoids and anthocyanins, but they help suppress cancer growth, reduce the risk of heart disease and are said to boost memory as well. Blueberries are so yummy on cereal and yogurt that when we saw Walnut Acres’ Organic Blueberry Juice we had to try it. It’s not too sweet and very flavorful on its own but when we mixed it with a dash of sparkling water it was the perfect summer spritzer. ::Walnut Acres ...
Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple Goes Geothermal
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.17.05
One of Frank Lloyd Wright's early and greatest works was the Unity Temple in Oak Park, near Chicago. Built in 1906 to 1908, it is one of the earliest public buildings constructed of poured-in-place concrete. Wright chose concrete because it was, in his words, "cheap," and yet could be made as dignified as more traditional masonry.
Now as its antiquated heating and marginal cooling systems give out, they are being replaced with an "environmentally friendly geothermal technology, compatible with the highest standards in historic preservation." The ground source system will reduce reliance on fossil fuels by up to 80 percent and will be supported by about 26 wells, each with a depth of 300 to 400 feet. "I believe Mr. Wright would approve of this plan," said UTRF Executive Director Keith Bringe. Treehugger certainly does.::Physorg and read also ::tour of the Unity Temple...
Mud Australia: Ceramic Homeware Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.17.05
Mud Australia makes simple, modern ceramic dishes, bowls, cups and other assorted products for the home. All Mud products are designed by founder Shelley Simpson and produced in her studio in Sydney. Each is hand-made from natural and non-toxic products, according to their site; though they don't elaborate, judging by the name, one can only assume that water and earth are combined and involved in the process. The subtle colors and clean lines make them suitable for varied home uses, and their versatility makes them easy to match with existing kitchen designs. Mud pieces are available in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom; for a complete list of stockists, click here. ::Mud Australia via ::design*sponge...
Solar-Powered Toyota Prius Project
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.17.05
Green Car Congress writes about a very cool project by Canadian engineer Steve Lapp who modified his 2001 Prius by installing solar panels on the roof. It is admitted that the car is still a rough prototype, but so far the fuel economy improvement are of 10%, a respectable figure; for reference, Honda completely redesigned the Honda Civic engine for the 2006 model and achieved a 6% increase in fuel economy (the comparison is not quite fair, but I just want to point out that it can take lots of engineering efforts to gain even a few percents). "Lapp’s modelling predicts a 10%–20% fuel efficiency improvement for the 270 watts of PV (to be bumped up to 360 watts with the additional of a fourth panel)"....
Eucalyptus Steamer Chair
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
As we've noted before, Eucalyptus is a renewable hardwood that rivals teak for durability. It's inexpensive and an excellent timber for outdoor furniture. This chair is a replica of the wooden loungers once found on steamships. It's crafted in Brazil of solid eucalyptus. It can be stained, oiled or allowed to weather naturally. Available for $199 from #1 Unfinished Furniture. ...
Cariboo Folding Changing Table
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
It's a portable, foldable, changing table made of sustainable New Zealand Radiata wood. It has a fabric changing surface that is detachable and is machine washable. What is Radiata wood? It's a fast growing softwood tree that responds well to intensive management. The Radiata pine is actually native to a small coastal area of central California, where it is now a threatened species. But it is widely grown in plantations in New Zealand. The changing table is available from LittleBabyShoes for $229.95 including shipping....
Green Loft Renovation by Matt Gagnon
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.17.05
The New York Times writes about a woman, Ramona Liberoff, who asked Matt Gagnon, a Williamsburg-based designer, to renovate her home, by reusing and recycling much of her 1,700-square-foot home itself. His first instinct, when it came to demolishing Ms. Liberoff's bedroom, was to reuse its building materials. The wallboard was cut into four-inch-wide strips, stacked horizontally (nearly 200 high) and framed by some of the old two-by-fours to create an entryway partition that looks as if it is filled in with slivers of stone. ...
World's Largest Biodiesel Plant To Be Built in Iowa
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.16.05
The very large, soon-to-be-built Iowa plant (two 100,000 square-foot buildings [almost 20,000 square meters]) will use soybeans from local farmers and produce 37.5 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Politicians from the region have been falling over each other to praise the project, calling it good for agriculture, good for US national security, good for jobs and the economy, etc. "The cost of biodiesel is still higher than regular diesel. In almost every area, biodiesel outperforms regular diesel. So, it's been strictly a cost issue," Iowa Energy Center spokesman Norm Olson said. Demand for biodiesel has been higher than the supply for a while, so the new plant won't have much trouble finding buyers, especially since by the time it's operational the price of oil will almost certainly be higher than it is now.
::Work to begin on massive biodiesel plant in northern Iowa, ::Biodiesel plant plans on track...
Gecko Adhesive Mimic from Carbon Nanotubes
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 08.16.05
For the past several years the Gecko has fascinated materials scientist with its ability to scamper up vertical walls, and hold its body weight with a single toe. Research from the University of Akron has shown that we can create a 'mimic' of the gecko foot using carbon nanotubes, opening up new avenues for adhesives can greatly change the way we build, live, and work - just think of the sticky note....
Portable Eucalyptus Chair by Novica
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.16.05
This chair is built in Rio de Janeiro, out of sustainable eucalyptus wood and canvas. It's part of a collection of furniture from Novica, an online store created by National Geographic with the intention of "uniting you with more than 2,000 extraordinary master artists around the world"....
NYC Health Dept. Says: 'Skip the Trans Fats Please'
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.16.05
From the City-issed press release of today: NEW YORK CITY – August 10, 2005 – "The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today asked City restaurateurs and food suppliers to voluntarily make an oil change by eliminating partially hydrogenated vegetable oils from the kitchen. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have been chemically modified and contain relatively high levels of trans fat, which significantly increases risk of heart disease, the City’s top cause of death". TreeHugger recommends reading the full press release at the above link. Check below the fold for some cookery design connections....
Un-TreeHugger: Astrakhan Fur
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.16.05
The winter fashion has hit the late-summer runways and hot trends were recently revealed for luxury shoppers. From Armani to Dolce & Gabbana, designers have incorporated astrakhan into their collections. Astrakhan, in simplest terms, is the fur of newborn or fetal Persian lambs called karakul. It’s an old practice and in Soviet times, it was fashionable among Communist party leaders and their families. Today, celebrities and the elite are expected to dish out up to $24,150 for a single item such as a coat designed by Prada. In TreeHugger terms, this means that 30 fetal lambs need to be killed and their carcasses will be thrown in the trash. And not only are they killed, but the pregnant ewes are as well. So why do retailers and designers think this fur is so special?
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Hemp Plastic: Not Just For Sandals Anymore
by TreeHugger on 08.16.05
With oil prices climbing all over the world, plastics manufacturers are looking to alternative sources of raw material that don't rely on synthetics. British company Hemp Plastics thinks it's on the right track to producing a 100% hemp feedstock plastic. It's current formulation, which uses hemp fiber filler bound with recycled plastic (a petrochemical component which they to replace with a hemp starch polymer) is lightweight, super tough, and even with its oil-based binder, uses far less petroleum than a comparable piece of polycarbonate......
This One Wins the Door Prize
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.16.05
Our own Dominic Muren might not have won the Designboom Door Competition had this been around. Apparently it detects your shape and multiple strips slide open to match it, closing up behind you. Infrared sensors at the end of the strips evidently activate them. Considering how much energy is wasted when stores leave their doors open and air condition the street, we imagine this could be useful. Who knows, perhaps they can bring you clothes that fit by sizing you up as you pass through the door. ::Tanaka via ::wemakemoneynotart...
Liberty Side Chair from Humanscale
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.16.05
Designed by Niels Diffrient as a companion to his Liberty task and office chair, the Libery Side Chair seamlessly combines comfort, a timeless aesthetic and super-sustainable design. The chair, produced by Humanscale, was recently awarded the Best of NeoCon® 2005 Gold Award in the Guest Seating category, and has some impressive sustainability credentials. The chair frame is made predominantly from 100% recycled and 100% recyclable die-cast aluminum, and the mesh seat and back are created from "environmentally-friendly materials," according to a Humanscale press release. They also say that it is produced in such a way as to have minimal environmental impact, and judging by the prestigious awards and track record of Humanscale, they probably have. Overall, the Liberty side chair contains 80% recycled content and is 95% recyclable....
Bent Plywood Couch by Aswoon
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.16.05
Aswoon, a design firm in Brooklyn, has released a new line of bent plywood furniture. The designs emphasise the flow of the wood through the use striated colors. This "Rave Wave" plywood couch was fabricated by Susan Woods. You can see her at work, bending the plywood. She also make equally attractive room dividers. :: Aswoon via Inhabitat...
Compact Houses: Architecture for the Environment
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.16.05
This book by Marta Serrats, coming in September, looks like a good read for those interested in a space-optimized, modern home. The houses profiled here prove that thoughtful design and efficiency can be had in a tiny setting. Each project includes a case history describing its design challenges and how the architect overcame them, a detailed blueprint for each house, photos of the interior and the exterior, and plans of the layout. It's available from Amazon. Story via MetaEfficient and Land+Living....
Solar Powered Wi-Fi Network Opens In Boulder
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.16.05
Worldchanging reports that a free, solar-powered public Wi-Fi network has opened in Boulder, Colorado. It operates day and night, because the solar panels can charge the system battery in about 5 hours, and the battery can operate the access point for up to 72 hours. The network was created by Lumin, for Boulder's Downtown Business Improvement District. You can read more about the free Wi-Fi here. :: InternetNews story...
Organic, Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil from Nutiva
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.16.05
Nutiva brings coconut oil into the realm of respectability and sustainability with this new product. It has an excellent light taste, and a natural coconut aroma. Nutiva says this oil is produced within two hours of the coconuts being chopped. The oil is cold-pressed at below 104 degrees. Almost all other coconut oil available today is made with dried coconut meat and then highly processed in distant refineries. The oil is available online from Amazon. :: Nutiva...
Jerry Kott Presents RE Glassware
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.16.05
Jerry Kott prefers to be referred to as a "maker," rather than simply an artist, craftsperson or designer, and his work showcases how he accomplishes all three at once. Rebuild, redefine, relive, reinvent and recycle are all keywords in his RE Series, made of simple, colorful, decorative glassware. He starts with empty wine bottles that he cuts apart, frosts and/or paints, and reassembles into various shapes and sizes, serving simultaneously artistic and functional purposes. The decorative bottles can be used as candleholders and vases to hold some of Jerry's own glass flowers; the bottles aren't meant to hold liquid again once they're put back together, so real flowers aren't advised. The process Kott uses is very hands-on, making each bottle quite unique, and they are made to order once commissioned through his website. Kott has been a "maker" for over 30 years, and has shown other series of his work all over the world, from Paris to New York to Tokyo. ::Jerry Kott ...
The Canadian Driver Fuel Economy Challenge
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.16.05
We're a bit ambivalent about this Canadian Driver experiment: On one hand, they burned 500 liters of gasoline on some kind of sponsored joy-ride, but on the other, there's nothing like real-world results to get the average person to pay attention. The experiment was simple: Take the 10 most popular compact cars available for under C$20,000 (US$16,600) and see how far they can go on 50 liters of gasoline (13.2 US gallons) in real-world conditions. The article is timely since regular gasoline has recently reached C$1/liter in Canada (about US$3.10/gallon) and fuel economy is increasingly present in the collective consciousness (though not enough). For the test, the cars all followed each other on a road trip across Ontario and Québec, driving between 80 and 115km/h (50 and 72 miles/hour) depending on conditions. They all used air-conditioning and did not drive too conservatively (the point was not to see what was the best possible for each car but the average)....
Portland Peak Oil Group
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.15.05
You live in Portland and are interested by "peak oil" (if you are not familiar with the concept, you can read this FAQ)? Lucky you! The Portland Peak Oil Group describes itself as "a grassroots group of concerned local citizens" and seems quite awesome. From its humble beginnings of a few people meeting in a pizza joint over a year ago, it has grown to a more mature state and now organize meetings every Wednesday in the dining hall of St. Francis Church in Portland. The group "generates a full month of events, from speakers and workshops to outreach and preparedness team meetings and film night." The website contains everything there is to know about the meetings, but it also has additional resources such as a peak oil bibliography & filmography, links to websites and online articles, and will soon feature a message board and a wiki. Community initiatives like this are very inspirational and remind us that working together is the best way to achieve positive change. We wish the Portland Peak Oil group the very best of luck in educating the public and working out ways to deal with peak oil.
::Portland Peak Oil Group...
by Earthwatch Institute on 08.15.05
US Managed Forests Devalued for Recreational Use
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.15.05
Know what project managers do when two bids are an order of magnitude apart? They have a conference to get better information to prospective bid estimaters, and try to get more bids. So, what do TreeHuggers make of the news that the US Forest Service reports that it has re-estimated the macro-economic value of recreation in Federally managed forests, and found that it is worth a full order of magnitude less to the nation's economy than was thought just a few years ago?
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Clock watching? - Normal clocks
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 08.15.05
Are you bored at work, stuck in a waiting room, or just hanging out watching the minutes tick by? Well these gorgeous objects give new meaning to the phrase ‘clock watching’. These clocks might be designed by the lovely eco-minded folk at Normal, but we think they are quite out of the ordinary as far as telling the time goes. These two bright and funky forms would do wonders to brighten up anyone’s waiting time. The Square Daisy is made from sustainably harvested carbonized Bamboo ply with formaldehyde-free, low VOC satin finish and the Juice Clock is made from reclaimed and recycled HDPE, which is pressed from colourful post-consumer detergent bottles....
Bamboo Dining Utensils and Dinnerware
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.15.05
We know all you TreeHugger’s like bamboo as much as we do so when we spotted these 100% organically grown bamboo place settings and dinnerware it made sense to write about them. Not only are they sturdy but they also biodegrade in six months after being tossed. They aren’t dishwasher or microwaveable safe, but the beautiful light blonde colors of the wood are food safe and they don’t contain bleaches or dyes of any sort. The description states: “Recommended for single use.” Okay, now we know that bamboo is a highly renewable resource, but does using them just once really make sense? We say: “Hand wash and use them again and again.” ::Hammacher Schlemmer...
Toyota's Fine-N Hybrid/Fuel Cell Concept Car
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.15.05
While every other car company is racing to match the Prius' ICE/battery hybrid design, Toyota has the next best thing in it's sights: a fuel cell/battery hybrid with drive-by-wire on all four wheels. Yes...we know its only a concept car. But it seems like only a few years ago that people said that very same thing about Prius. And, a TreeHugger can dream can't he? For some cool trade show jargon have look below the fold. ...
Roy Lee Walker Sustainable Elementary School in McKinney
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.15.05
It seems like there's something quite cool going on in the city of McKinney, Texas. First there was the prototype of an eco-Walmart, then the eco-dealership by Toyota, and now - thanks to reader littleCatalyst for pointing it out - we learn that the city also has a sustainable elementary school that has been named (pdf link) one of the ten Most Environmentally Responsible Design Projects in the Nation by the American Institute of Architects. They have some great green architecture and landscaping, harvest rainwater in 6 cisterns (10,000 gallons capacity) and produce electricity with a wind turbine, but most importantly, they teach the kids about sustainability (it warms my heart!). Read more about it here. Any of our readers from McKinney? What's happening over there? Whatever it is, can you export it?
::Roy Lee Walker's psychedelic website, ::Great Article about the School ::SHW Architects Group, ::American Institute of Architects (pdf)...
Modified Hybrids Get 250 Mpg
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.15.05
Hot on the heels of the news that production-model Toyota Prius's can achieve 110 miles per gallon (mpg) comes the news that with a few modifications, today's Prius's can be modified to help increase fuel efficiency without the benefit of the "pulse and glide" technique used by the test team. Take this example, built by electrical engineer Ron Gembam: it looks exactly like a typical Toyota Prius, but in the trunk sits a stack of 18 brick-sized batteries that give it an additional electrical boost that allows it to just barely sip at the gas tank.
Gembam, who lives in the San Francisco suburb of Corte Madera, spent several months and about $3,000 to modify his Prius to allow the extra batteries to be recharged by plugging them into the grid. The extra batteries let Gremban drive for 20 miles with a 50-50 mix of gas and electricity. Even after the car runs out of the extra juice from the batteries and switches to the standard hybrid mode, it gets the typical Prius fuel efficiency of around 45 mpg. As long as Gremban doesn't drive too far in a day, he gets 80 mpg....
Canon USA Unveils New Recycling Program
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.15.05
Lately, Canon has been promoting its new Consumer Products Recycling Program (CPRP?). Unfortunately, their scheme seems a bit complicated and would probably be more popular if it was streamlined some. You need to log on to this website, provide the Canon model name and product serial number and print the UPS shipping label that is given. The shipping & recycling is not free, it goes from $6 to $36 depending on the size and weight of the product. The obvious way to make the process more appealing would be to include that amount in the initial price of the product so that recycling it at the end of its life-cycle seems free (or even add a deposit to be returned?). I think something similar is being proposed by the European Union and some Asian countries.
::Canon Consumer Products Recycling Program Website, ::Recycling Today, ::Business Wire...
Brazilian Gueto Studio House Accessories
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 08.15.05
Recycling is so great; we know how much us treehuggers love it. But some materials can get really tricky, and it takes some good sense to pull up a slick-as-we-like product with recycled, especially when materials are pieces of leather and rubber.
Now, think about that at look at this cute puff! The responsibles for this one are guys at Gueto, a Brazilian studio from Rio Grande do Sul, the most southern of Brazilian states.
The company was started back in 2001 by architect and designer Karin Wittmann Wilsmann, and her sister, Solange Wittmann, now commercial director.
Between their developments there are two main materials they’ve recuperated: pieces of leather and rubber waste they get from an enterprise called Suljet....
Choosing an Efficient Room-sized Air Conditioner
by Ben Engebreth, New York City on 08.14.05
New York City has been breaking electricity usage records lately as a result of the extreme heat and humidity that can always be found in that part of the world in the middle of summer. Having just purchased a window air conditioner in the city myself, I thought I'd review some "best practices" for choosing an efficient room air conditioner....
Eco-Friendly Burial lets you be Green Forever
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.14.05
Treehugger has talked about biodegradable caskets and eco-friendly burials before; now it has gone mainstream in Marin. The New York Times covers the trend. "It is not enough to be a corpse anymore," said Thomas Lynch, an author, poet and Michigan funeral director. "Now, you have to be a politically correct corpse." ::New York Times...
Aronson's Floor Covering
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.14.05
Since all the way back in 1867, Aronson's Floor Coverings has been building floors and floor coverings from their home base in New York's downtown design district. They offer an amazing array of different materials and styles, and these versatile resources allow them the flexibility to outfit just about any space with a chic floor. Aronson's takes pride in their work for high-concept, high-traffic environments. Our favorites are the grass and wood-derivatives: bamboo, (pictured) for its remarkable eco-resiliency and wood-like beauty, and cork, for its living sustainability (since it is crafted from bark harvested from a living tree) and greater-than-wood resiliency. Either one is great for lending natural, warm beauty to wherever people of the world need to walk. ::Aronson's Floor Coverings...
David Colwell's Trannon TS series table
by Erwan Pianezza, Locronan, Brittany on 08.14.05
We've already reported David Colwell's chairs. Today we'd like to focus on David's three legged tables that we classify as masterpiece. As any piece of furniture designed by David, sustainability is on the agenda, not only within the use of materials -local uk ash- but also within the idea of creating objects that people wish to sustain. ...
CO2 and The Great Ethanol Spreadsheet Mystery
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.14.05
Fermenting sugars and starches to make ethanol produces carbon dioxide. Whether you're a beer or a champaign kind of TreeHugger, this intuitive insight is immediate and obvious. So far the public policy debate about Ethanol's merit has hinged on energy yield "per vehicle mile traveled" (VMT), and on ethanol's ability to add oxygen to the internal combustion cycle, thus reducing carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from the tailpipe. Of course, politicians and the farm lobby throw in some "energy independence" rhetoric, with family farmers in the backdrop. Not much about climate change impact compared to other fuels. Wonder why that is?...
Book: Green Clean from Melcher Media
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.14.05
“Most homes are clean, but few of them are green,” says Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin, authors of Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home. Sales of natural household products have surged in the past few years and this book is about putting them to good use. It explains what green cleaning is, why it’s important and how to make it work in your home. The authors take you through your house, room by room, and give you ideas for safer ways to clean and they list green ideas and recipes. And check this: the book itself is waterproof and stain-resistant so you can store it with all of your cleaning products and won’t get damaged. Brilliant! Via ::Amazon...
Wind Power From Busy Highway
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.14.05
How much wind does a 16-lane highway produces? Is it enough to make electricity? That's what we're about to find out thanks to students of Centennial College in Toronto. They have been taking anemometer measurements along the 401 highway, Canada's busiest road, to determine what is the appropriate turbine size for the project. "If all goes well, the site will be prepared for the installation of a full-scale wind turbine as early as the summer of 2006."
::Tapping into 16 lanes of wind energy, via ::Green Car Congress...
TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
